Okpogho

Okpogho is one of the most ancient cities in Africa located in Enugu State of Nigeria. Okpogho is well known for her distinguished strides in iron smelting which ended the world's trade by barter system. The originality of Okpogho could be traced from earlier ancestor called Ezeanyanwu. Ezeanyanwu was one of the descendants of Eri. Eri was the fifth son of Gad and Gad was the seventh son of Jacob the son of Isaac. Jacob was renamed Israel by the spirit who fought him fiercely according to the scriptures and was defeated by Jacob.

Okpogho
Indigenous Peoples Community
Nickname(s): 
Diji Onwa-Náka
Okpogho
Coordinates: 6°26′0″N 7°16′0″E
CountryNigeria
StateEnugu State
Government
 • HIS ROYAL MAJESTYIGWE APOSTLE DR. CHIMEREZE LINUS PIUS DIJI 1 OF OKPOGHO KINGDOM
Elevation
166 m (547 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total342,800
Time zone WAT
Websitewww.facebook.com/okpoghotown

The people of Okpogho displayed exceptional creative abilities, as they settled in distinct regions of a place which is now referred to as Ezeagu, a local government area in Enugu state.

Population

The last known population of Okppgho was 342,800 (2015) which is about 0.188% of the Nigeria population.[1][2] If population growth rate would be same as in period 1991-2015 (+5.05%/year), Okpogho population in 2021 would be: 460 636*.

Demographics

Okpogho is generally populated by the Igbo people..

Education

The People of Okpogho loves Education and focuses on early child Education at all cost usually born partly by the community and the government on the other part. The community provided resources such as transportation means to convey pupils to school as well as structures for academic excellence.

Religion

Okpogho people like other South-Eastern Nigerians are predominantly Christians. Other non-religious faiths like Traditionalism and Habalism are strongly practiced by a very few minority that still hold strongly to ancient believes and faith. Roman Catholic is the dominant Christian faith practiced in Okpogho.

The Odo Cult

The Odo masquerade cult is an ancient culture practiced by the people of Opkogho from the past to the present. Odo is not pertinent to the people of Okpogho as it is also practiced by most ancient kingdoms within the Udi and Ezeagu people. The Odo festival provides a heritage that sees every men and women of Okpogho unite under the umbrella of a rich culture during which the dead are believed to walk among the living, interceding and reuniting temporarily with the their families. The initiation into the cult would see every young male of Okpogho undergo three(3) initiation stages namely:

  1. "Iba N'uno" - Presentation to the clan, Child naming ceremony.
  2. "Ifu N'Ama" - Presentation to the community, and first introductory sacrifice to the Odo cult.
  3. "Ite` Odo" - Joining the Odo cult proper which is often performed in two sessions, name-masked as "Igbu Awo"

All activities of the Odo cult and festivity are gruesomely fetish and requires utmost secrecy.

References
  1. "Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics". Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  2. "Okpogho · Population". population.city. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
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